Wahine Toa is a two-day futsal and football programme for kōhine (adolescent girls), run twice a year by WaiBOP Football Federation.

Each cohort for the programme has a maximum of 50 participants, with a general age range of 14-15 years old.

The main pre-requisites are

• a love of football/futsal
• a great attitudes
• being keen to learn.

The Wahine Toa programme includes players of all levels of playing ability - community, competitive, and talent.

The Wahine Toa - Whakatipu Kōhine programme for aspirational players is run for invited Kōhine.

Wahine Toa – Whakatipu Kōhine is a two-day programme designed for Kōhine (young females) who have aspirations of playing football or futsal at the highest level. 

Wahine Toa – Whakatipu Kōhine is focused on supporting, developing and empowering the next generation of talented female footballers in the WaiBOP region, helping young women grow in confidence, capability and connection through football, while helping them understand and embrace their pathway in the game.

WaiBOP Wahine Toa Whakatipu Kōhine - September 2026

Where: Rototuna Senior High School - 56 Kimbrae Drive, Hamilton

Dates: 28- 29th September 2026 (participants must attend both days)

Time: 9 am - 3 pm 

Ages: Girls born in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013

Cost: $100

We are inviting nominations for this programme. Girls must be playing this year (registered in Sporty to a WaiBOP club) and meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Have represented NZF at a Youth level
• Have been formally identified by NZF or WaiBOP as a player with potential
• Have played in the Futsal Super League
• Have played in the Youth Futsal Championship
• Have played  in the NRFL Premiership or Championship
• Have played in the W-League
• Are currently playing in NRFL Girls Youth League U14 or U16, or aspire to be next year

Nominate here

Nominations close: August 30th

Who can nominate?
We’re calling for nominations from clubs, coaches, parents/whanau and players themselves.

What are we looking for?
We are interested in players who aspire to play football or futsal at the highest level in the future. Girls that perhaps have a dream of playing for the Futsal Ferns or the Football Ferns one day; playing in the Women's National League, or perhaps playing professionally one day.

Players will demonstrate a combination of ability, commitment, attitude and a desire to develop.

Please provide as much honest information in the nomination form. 

We want to understand player potential, aspirations and willingness to keep learning.

Questions?

Contact Anna Harris,

+6427 615 4250  or anna.h@waibop.co.nz

What is Wahine Toa?

The Wahine Toa Programme is a 2 day female only football programme that provides an opportunity for young kōhine/females to learn, holistically develop themselves and build on their Football and Futsal knowledge together in a fun and safe learning environment.

We have a focus on building connection and friendships across the region, and the programme is open to players at all levels of the game (Wahine Toa is not a ‘talent’ programme)

The programme involves:

• Football, Futsal, Coaching, Referee and GK skills and tactics sessions.
• Nutrition, Performance and Prevention for Female Athletes.
• Sessions focused on building self-confidence.
• Guest Wahine Celebrity Sports Representatives.
• Lunch, Snacks & Wahine Toa Training Shirt included.

With our focus on building connection, for most programmes we ask for nominations from schools and clubs. This is designed so we can ensure representation from a variety of clubs and schools across the whole region, as well as an even spread of playing ability - community, competitive and talent players. 

WaiBOP Football are immensely grateful to have received funding from Hine te Hiringa – Empower Women, a fund established by the Department of Internal Affairs as part of the legacy of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. This funding has been integral in supporting the delivery of the programme and to make it accessible for participants.

This funding assisted the delivery of the Wahine Toa programme in 2022 and 2023. 

Wahine Toa Timeline​​​​​​​

2022 September - Pilot Programme launched

2023 17-18 April - Rototuna High School, Hamilton

2023 23-24 September - Papamoa College, Tauranga

2024 - 11-12 July - Rototuna High School, Hamilton

2024 - 2-3 October Trident High School, Whakatane

2025 - 10-11 July - Wahine Toa - Whakatipu Kōhine  (Invited aspirational players) - Rototuna High School, Hamilton

2025 - September 22-23rd - Silver Fern Farms Event Centre, Te Aroha 

2026 - 6&7 July - Waikato Diocesan School